Loose-leaf-binder device



Feb. 22, 1927. 1,618,770

A. M. MARflN LOOSE LEAF BINDER DEVICE Filed March 29. 1926 2. Shoots-Sheet 1 Feb. 22 1927. w

' A. M. MARTIN LOOSE LEAF BINDER DEVICE Filed March 29. 3926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

ounge ALFRED MARTIN, or CHICAGO, innl'iiois.

mosmaiammsa niivion.

A s-cam filed aim-1i 29, 1926: Serial 1%. yams.

The improvenicnts have more particular rel tlon to such binders having means for shitting cards or sli'eets from one longitudinal position therein to another.

In @opn'aing application known as Serial Number 28,619, filed Ap i1'29', 1925 I have shown a loose-leaf binder having mounted thereon a sheet-shifting device adapt-ed to be moved into operative position to shift cards 01' sheets when the book or binder is open, audio occupy an out-eitheivay position within the binder when the binder is closed, the shifting device being permanently attached to the binder so as normally to remain connected therewith at all times. r I I According to the present I improvements the sheet-shifting device is a free unit which is applied to the binder by the operator. Through an association of the shifting device with supporting means carried by the binder a com-ion is made between the binder and the shifting device for positioning the latter and maintaining it in its proper relation to binder prongs while cards or sheets are being transferred therefrom to the shifting device, and While the .latter' is then moved longitudinally; and while the cards or sheets are then transferred back to binder prongs to lie in another loiigitudinal position in the file; According to these inip'ro'vement's too, while the sheet-shifting device may be removed bodily from the binder or fil'e when it is not in use, there is a further feature of advantage in rovisions whereby the sheet-shifter may occupy out-o'f-l'h'eivay position in the binder when the b nder is closed, to the end that the device may always be available for use, may be free from the danger of loss and so relieve the operator of rcsponsipility for its safety, and, through its ever-ready character; save time.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an end view of a non-shift binder equipped with shifting means acrording to these iin 'aroveinents and showing the out of-th'e ivay positionoi the shifting device when the book or binder is closed; Fig. 2 is a view similar to' that of Fig. 1, but with the beak open and,

ing the out-of-the-wayposition of the shifting device vzit-such time also; Fig. 3 is a top plan of the book or binder' looking down on the device as illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. at

is sectional view of the binder on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the sheet shifting plate in its normal position for use 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 25 but viewed from the opposite end of the device, showing in full lines the shifting member in position to receive cards or sheets from binder prongs or to transfer them to binder prongs; and Fig; 6 is a fragmentary face view of a series of perforated cards or sheets in overlapped relation as used in the device. In the several figures the front and backcovers of the book-like structure are only fraginentarily shown. I

In the particular device illustrated the two body members A; and B may be considered to be of wood covered with fabric and united by a pair of metal hinges 10. The covers 11' have a hinge like connection with the body members respectively at 12through the fabric covering common to the body and to the covers, and thus the main frame struc-' ture of the device is substantially in; the form of a book which opens and closes through the hinged connections IO to assume the several relative positions illustrated. As to the fundamental binder parts thus specified I have illustrated only What'is old. So far as the present improvements are concerned the binder per Se may be according to any one of a large number of Well-known constructions.

The body member A has a row of prongs 13 while the body member B has a similar row of prongs 14, these prongs being? carried rigidly by the body members respectively and being of arcuate formation on a common radius leading from the axis 1O. As shown in Figs. 3'and 4c the'binder prongs l3 and let are offset longitudinally with respect to each other and are therefore in overlapping relation when the book is closed as shown in Fig.1.

There are provided as a special feature of binderconstruction ior the present purposes such a plurality of prongs 13 and 14, and the adjacent ones of each series or row are so close together, as to hold a longitudinal series, or a plurality of such series; of sheets of cards in overlapped relation, as fragnientarily shown in Fig. 6'.

.lnjFig; 6 the Upper portion of each of-such cards or sheets is exposed. as to exhibit rcference data, these several sheet units being identified as U, D, E. F, G, H and I. The sheet I is shown as broken away close to the top to show a. portion of underlying sheet 11, and that sheet is broken away showing a portion of underlying sheet G, and so on, illustrating the fact that the cards or sheets are in overlapped relation to each other and adapted so to be held by hinder prongs It is to be understood that holes punched in the sheets register with other such holes when the sheets are in such overlapped relation and each sheet of the series illustrated may he understood to he like every other sheet thereof and as being provided with a row of binder-prong holes 15 tqlll(ll$ttllll from each other. the arrangement providing that several, say three. of the hinder prongs pass through each of the overlapped cards or sheets.

In the well-known device of my Patent No. 1.2693197 of June 11.. 1918 one body 111cm her is shiftablo longitudinally relative to the other thereof on. the hinged connections to provide for transferring cards or sheets to a different longitudinal position in the hindor, to accomplish important objects and adaintages pointed out in my said patent. According to the present improvements the two body members as A and B are not lnovable longitudinally relative to each other. It is an object of the present improvements to accomplish the results of a shift hinder without shifting a large mass of book elements and many cards or sheets, thus saving labor and time and avoiding certain ineonveniences in operation. It is an object to provide simple. light-weight and easily operable sheetshifting means for such a binder, and to provide a binder having sheet-shifting means as an adjunct or auxilhir 'lealnre thereof. ll" is also an object to provide a construction of binder and sheet-shi l'ting device whereby the latter may remain in the lJll'ltlQl llll an out otthe-way nisitiou when not in use, and where it is atoll limes readily available.

The sheet-shitting means illustrated consist first ot a plate 16. shown as being enhslantially rectangular in contour. as being relatively long, namely almost as long 2113 the binder body. and as being provided with a plurality of slightly curved 1nongs 1T ar ranged in a row near what is mirmallv the upper edge of the plate. The prongs ill are shown as being spaced apart equidistantly and to the same extent as are the binder prongs 13 or .14. and these sheet-shitting prongs have therefore the same relationship to the holes 15 in the cards as do the binder prongs. The prongs 17 are relatively short, and, as shown by Fig. 5. they may be brought into such an overlapping relationship with the prongs 14 that the end portions of the prongs 17 and the end portions 01 the prongs 1.4 may have a counnon longitudinal projection.

The sheetshifting feature includes also means for supporting the prongcarrying plate 16 for rocking movements in directions toward and away 'llOlTl the ends of hinder prongs and for sliding longitudinal move ments. Such sin'iporting means may he variously embodied. Figs. 2 and 5 well illustrate plate-supporting means in one of such various embodiments. and comprises a pair oi standards 18, one thereof being positioned near each end of the binder body and, in the form shown. each standard eon'iprises a narrow, flat and straight plate 19 and a plate 520 similar to plate 19 except that at its upper end it is bent outwardy and upwardly at 20" to form with the upper end of the plate 1!) a recess or seat 21 adapted to receive for roxking and sliding movements therein the lower edge of the pronged plate 16. These two plates 19 and 20 are held face to face npon each other and upon the body member ll by screws 22.

The sheet-shifting operation is usually performed upon sheets lying on the righthand side of the binder when open. In Fig. 5 we are supposed to be facing the operator, and will therefore assume that with his left hand he has placed the pronged plate 16 in the two aligning seats 21 while with his right hand he has lifted certain sheets 23 desired to be shifted and has passed them over upon shifter prongs while still upon the end portions oi binder prongs; that thereupon, while holding the cards on the plate and the plate on the support. by rocking or invinging the shifter plate on the axis of its support and into its dotted-line position shown in Fig. 5, the ends ol? the prongs 17 having cleared the ends of the prongs l t. the plate 16 is moved with a sliding contact upon the supporting means into some other longitinlinal position, say (he distance between two. three or more of the adjacent holes in the cards or sheets. and that there upon the plate 16 is swung hack into its 'l'ull-line position in l ig. 5 and the cards or sheets thereon transferred hark to hinder prongs to occupy then another longitudinal llOE'ltlUll in the binder.

A notable feature (it :nlrantage in the operation just described is in the tart lhat the operator is handling a very lighl-weight object over which he has perfect ('ollll'ul. and. with respect to the cards or sheets. is Inanipulating only the particular ones the position oi which it is desired lo change.

From Fig. l it will be noted that the shifter there occupies a position for the lllfird. part between the body members A. and l: and with only the upper end portion thereot' containing the prongs extending (and well within the space allowance) into the space Inn 1,6 is, we

beneath the binder proi'igs in that figure and entirely ont of the way and out of contact with sheets as 23 carried thereby A special feature of the construction in this respect is Soto form or'applythe hinge connections as to provide space for this device when the binder close-d.

QFrom Fig. 2 it will be observed that when the binder is open the sheet-shifting plate 16 lies upon the body member B and is sti l in an-oht-oftl1e-way position, so that all of the various manipulations of the cards or sheets not invohnng theu'seo-f the shifter may be performed without reference thereto. Means are provided for holding the plate 16 in the relative positions of it shown in Figs. 1 and 2 whereby the book may be opened and closed fr ely and from time to time as desired, and for consultation of any series of sheets in the book, without any consideration of the presence of the shifting device therein. The means provided for this purpose include the supporting means 18 and the provision of ho es 25 (F 8 and in the plate 16 through whicl'i the upper ends of the supports 18 extend when the plate is applied thereto for holding e'fleets. Fig. 3 well illustrates how the plate 16 is so held.

I have also shown means for locking the opposite one of the post-like supports 1 8,

which support has a hole 30 tl'i'er'ethrou'gh (shown by dotted lines in Fig. into which the projection 29 extends when the body members are looked together in Fig. 1. By pressing down the free end of the spring; 27 (Fig. 1) the projection 29 comes out of the hole 30 freeing the body members to be opened.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No, 26,619, filed April 29, 1925, entitled Loose-leaf binders.

I contemplate as being included in the present improvements all such variations and departures from and such modifications and equivalents of wl'iat has thus been specilic'ally illustrated and described as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with a loose-leaf hinder having opposed rows of prongs for hol'ding cards or sheets in overlapped relation, sheet-shifting means comprising a pate having a row of prongs thereon, and supporting means for said plate for holding said plate with the prongs thereof in position to receive cards or sheets from the binder prongs and for holding the plate for sliding longitudinal movements.

2. The combination with a loose-leaf binder having opposed rows of prongs for holding cards or sheets in overlapped relation; of sheet-shifting means comprising a platehaving a row or prongs thereon, and supporting means for said plate having a relatively fixed relation to the binder for holdingsaid plate with the prongs thereof in position to receive cards or sheets from the binder prongs and for holding the plate for sliding longitudinal movements.

3. The combination with a loose-leaf binder having a pair of body members 'hingedtogether, with a 'row of prongs on each body member for holding cards or sheets in overlapped relation, of sheet-shifting means comprising a plate having a row of prongs thereon and supporting means for said plate upstanding from the binder and having guide means thereon for holding said plate with the prongs thereof in position to receive cards or sheets from the binder prongs and for holding the plate for transverse swinging and for longitudinal sliding movements 4;. In a loose-leaf hinder or the non-shit type and having twoop' vosed rows of prongs for holding "Cards or sheets in overlapped relatioi ithe combination therewith of means carried by the binder for supporting a sheet-shifting device for movement thereon and for ready removahility from the binder when not in use and to occupy a position substantially between the rows of binder prongs to receive cards or sheets from prongs of one row thereof when in use, and a sheet-shifting device having a row of prongs thereon operatively supported by said supporting means to occupy said position when in use and to swing in directions toward and away from the binder prongs.

5. In a loose-leafbinder having a pair of body members hinged together, with a row of prongs on each body member directed inwardly, the combination therewith of means carried by the binder for supporting, for ready rem'ovability, a longitudinallyshiftable sheet-shifting device-in operative relation to a row of the binder prongs to receive sheets or cards therefrom, and a longitudinally-shiftable sheet-shifting device so supported on the binder and having means'tor engagii'ig sheets transferred to the shifting device from binder prongs.

6. In a loose-leaf binder having a pair of body members with a row of l'irongs on each directed inwardly, the combination therewith of means on the binder for snpj'iorting for ready reniovability a longitudinallyshiftable sheet-shifting device in operative relation to a row of the binder prongs to receive sheets or cards therefrom; and a longitudinallyshiftable sheet-shifting device so supported on the binder and having prong means for engaging sheets transits binder prongs, with means carried by the binder for supporting said shitting device for ready removability when not in use and for swinging n'iovements in directions toaid and away from free ends of the binder prongs and for longitudinal movement when 8. The combination with a loose-leaf binder having opposed rows of prongs adapted to hold thereon respectively perforated cards or sheets in overlapped relation, of a sheetshifting device including a longitudinally-shiftable plate having prongs and adapted to be positioned substantially opposite one row of the binder prongs to receive from the binder prongs cards or sheets, and means carried by the binder tor supporting the shifting device in its operative relation to the hinder prongs and for ready removability from thedevice when not in use.

9. In a loose-leaf binder of the character described, the combination of a pair of body members each having a row of prongs thereon, the body members being hinged together by means providing a space between them adjacent to the hinge means. for accommodating a sheet-shifting unit between the body members when the binder is closed.

'10. In a loose-teat binder of the character described the combination of a pair ot. body members each having a row ot prongs thereon. the body members being hinged together by means providing a space between them adjacent to the hinge means, for accommodating a sheet-shitting unit between the bodymembers when the binder is closed, and a sheet-shifting unit occupying said space. i

.11. In a loose-halt" binder of the character described, the combination of a pair of body members each having a row oi prongs there on, the body members being hinged together by means providing a space between them adjacent to the hinge means, for acconnnm dating a sheet-shitting unit between the body members when the binder is closed. a sheet-shifting unit occupying said space. and means for holding said sheet-shitting unit in said space.

12. In a loose-leaf binder of: the character described, the combination of apair of body members each having a row of prongs thereon, the body members being hinged together by means providing a space between them adjacent to the hinge means, for accommodating a sheet-shitting unit between the body members when the binder is closed, a

sheetshifting unit occupying said space, 0

and means for holding said sheet-shifting unit readily releasable for withdrawal from the binder when the binder is open.

13. In a looseleaf binder of the non-shift type having opposed rows of prongs for holding cards or sheets in overlapped relation, the combination therewith of a plate having a row of prongs thereon adapted to be positioned with its prongs directed toward the binder prongs, with post-like supporting means on the binder for supporting said shifting device, when the binder is open, for swinging movements in directions toward and away from free ends of binder prongs and for longitudinal move ments, said post-like means being arranged to occupy an out ot-the-way position when the binder is closed.

'll. In a loose-leaf binder having a pair of body members hinged together, with a row of prongs on each body member directed inwardly, the combination therewith of means on the binder for supporting a sheet-shifting device in its operative relation to a row of the binder prongs to receive cards or sheets therefrom, for longitudinal and rocking movements, and for ready rcn'iovability from the binder, and a sheet-shifting device adapted so to be supported by the binder and having means for engaging sheets transferred to the shifting device from binder prongs, with means for holding said sheet shit'ting device in an outot-the-way position in the binder when the sheet-shifting device is not in use.

15. In a loose-lent binder having a pair of body members hinged together, with a row of prongs on each body member directed inwardly, the continuation therewith of means on the binderigtor sljuiporting a sheet-shitting device in its operative relation to a row of the binder prongs to receive cards or sheets thereitrom, For longitudinal and rocking movements, and for ready removability from the binder, a sheet-shitting device adapted so'to bc smaported by the binder and having means For engagii'ig sheets t 'ansferred to the shitting device from binder prongs. and means for holding said shitting device in an out-o't-the-way position tltljtl-Ghti to the l'iinge means thereof and partly between the body members at the hinge means when the binder is closed.

'16. In a loose-lea t binder having a pair of body members hinged together, each body member having a row of prongs for bolding cards or sheets in overlapped relation, the combination therewith of a plate having a row of prongs thereon adapted to be positioned with its prongs directed toward the llt binder prongs, with a plurality of post-like supports on the binder for supporting said shifting device for swinging movements in directions toward and away from the free ends of the binder prongs and for longitudinal movements, spring catch means for holding the body members in closed position, one of said supports coacting with said catch means thereto.

17. In a loose-leaf binder having a pair of body members hinged together, each body member having a row of prongs for holding cards or sheets in overlapped rela tion, the combination therewith of a plate having a row of prongs thereon adapted to be positioned with its prongs directed toward the binder prongs, with a plurality of post-like supports on the binder for supporting said shifting device for swinging movements in directions toward and away from the free ends of the binder prongs and for longitudinal movements, spring catch means for holding the body members in closed position, one of said supports coacting with said catch means thereto, said plate having a plurality of openings therein to accommodate said supports respectively whereby said plate may be held by said supports when not in use.

ALFRED M. MARTIN. 

